Ironing table



Oct. 6, 1942. H. s. RICH IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. 20, 1940 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 IRONIN G TABLE Howard B. Rich, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Rich Ladder and Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,927

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an ironing table or similar article, of the collapsible type wherein the legs may be folded toward the under side of the device when not in use, and stored away in that condition.

An object of the invention is to provide improved and inexpensive means, in a device of the character referred to, whereby the ironing table leg structure is disposed to and rigidly held in the extended or operative position in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to render entirely automatic the latching of the leg structure in the extended or operative position, the release being automatic also.

A further object is to simplify and reduce the manufacturing cost of collapsible ironing tables, while at the same time retaining the advantages of the more costly structures and securing additional advantages which the more costly structures do not possess.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an ironing table or similar device embodying the invention, and as seen from below.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the free forward end of a rear leg brace structure which forms a detail of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an automatic latching device constituting part of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the automatic latching device shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a gravity hook or retainer element which forms part of the latching device.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of automatic latching device.

In the preferred form of theinvention, the ironing table structure is by preference designed primarily along the lines of the ironing table disclosed in the Richardson Patent No. 2,003,866. Accordingly, the device will preferably consist of a board 2 having a forward end 3, a rear end 4, and an under surface 5. Adjacent to the rear end of the board there is disclosed a rear leg bracket 6 having pivots I at its opposite ends, from which pivots are suspended the individual legs 8 of the composite rear leg structure. The rear leg structure preferably includes a pair of cross bars 9 and H), the function of which is to contract and spread the rear legs as the rear leg structure is moved to the collapsed and extended positions, respectively. In the inoperative position of the rear leg structure, the members 8 rest against the under face of the board 2, in substantial parallelism. In the operative or extended position, the lower ends of the legs 8 are spaced apart a distance exceeding the distance between the pivots l.

The front leg structure may comprise one or two front legs [2 connected together at their free forward ends 13, the opposite ends thereof being pivoted at [4 to a pair of brackets l5, each of which is riveted or otherwise fixed to the under face of the board, preferably at locations slightly in advance of the bracket 6. The upper ends of the front legs are tapered, as indicated at it, so as to engage the under face of the board and thereby provide stops for limiting the movement of the front leg structure when swung to the operative or extended position of Fig. l.

The extent to which the rear leg structure may be swung downwardly and rearwardly, is placed under the control of the limited movement of the front leg structure, by providing tension elements ll, which may be in the form of rods having their forward ends anchored at [8 upon the forward end of the front leg structure, while the rear ends thereof are provided with heads or other stops 19 adapted to abut some part of the rear leg structure when the maximum extension of the front and rear leg structures is reached, in setting up the ironing table. As disclosed herein, the lower ends 20 of the cross braces are perforated to slidably receive the rear ends of the tension rods I1, the perforations being smaller than the heads [9, so that the heads perform as stops abutting the lower ends of the cross bars. The lower ends of the cross bars are shown pivoted at points 2|, upon the rear leg brace structure, which latter is constituted of the brace bars or compression bars 22. The rear ends of the brace bars are pivoted at 23 upon the rear leg structure, at points intermediate the,

ends of the rear legs.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that a force imposed lengthwise upon the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure 22, will push the rear leg structure rearwardly, but the rearward movement will be limited by reason of the fact that the tension rods I! will be drawn taut to pull the front leg structure toward its limit of movement as determined by the stops l6, thereby resulting in a tensioned or rigid relationship of the entire supporting trestle structure of the ironing table.

The spread of the rear legs and the operation of the tensioning means may be accomplished as taught in the Richardson patent, if desired. However, it will readily be conceivable that minor changes are possible in regard to the mounting of the cross braces, the pivot points of the leg structures, and in various connections and part relationships, while retaining the same general mode of operation.

To the under surface of the board there is riveted or otherwise fixed an automatic latchin device, indicated generally by the reference character 23, this latching device being adapted to cooperate with the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure 22. Said free forward end may comprise the ends of the compression bars 22, spaced apart as at and held in that relationship by means of a keeper plate 26. The keeper plate may be in the form of a metallic strip or bar, securely fastened as at 21 to the elements 22. As will become evident as the description proceeds, the keeper need not necessarily be a fiat bar, but might be merely a short length of rod or bar stock having any desired cross section. When the keeper is in plate form, as disclosed herein, it is considered preferable to employ rivets or other fasteners 21 to secure the keeper against the upper edges 28 of the compression bars 22, so that the plane of the plate is in parallelism with the mean plane of the rear leg brace structure 22.

The automatic locking device 24 may be in the form of an inverted channel, as shown, having legs 29 and spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the space 25 spanned by the keeper. Thus, the keeper may be advanced into the oblique slots 3| formed in the legs 29 and 30 of the channel body of the latching device, while said body is embraced between the free forward ends of the members 22. The slots or guides 3| may be widened at 32, to facilitate entry of the keeper plate 23 thereinto.

At 33 is indicated a keeper engaging or retaining element, which has one end 34 pivoted or journaled in the legs 23 and 33 of the latch body, and an opposite end formed as a hook 35. The distance of the hook or head 35 from the pivot points 34 is such that the hook will engage the rear edge 36 of the keeper plate when the plate is advanced fully into the guides or slots 3|.

It is of importance to note that the hook or retainer element 33: is loosely journaled at the points 34 so that it may freely swing under the influence of gravity. The body 24- is fixed to the under face of the board so that the guides or slots 3| extend in the general direction of the rear leg structure, whereupon it will be readilyapparent that standing the ironing board upon the rear end 4 with its board 2 substantially vertical, the gravity hook or latch 33 will assume a hanging position in substantial parallelism with the under surface of the board, so as not to obstruct the slots 3|. Thereupon, the keeper 25 may be inserted. into the slots and removed therefrom without interference by the gravity hook or latch element 33. However, when the keeper is inserted fully into the slots or guides 3|, and the table is tilted toward the horizontal position, the latch element 33 will swing about its pivots 34, by gravity, to dispose the hooked end 35 thereof behind the edge 36 of the latch plate 23, thereby to automatically lock the rear leg brace structure to the latch housing 24. To unlatch or release the structure, it is necessary only to stand the ironing table upon its rear end 4, in a substantially upright position, whereuponv the latch element will swing away from the keeper plate, thereby allowing the operator to retract the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure from the embrace of the slots or guides 3|.

It may here be noted that in a structure of the kind described, wherein the parts are strained when the device is set up in the extended position of its parts, a positive force on the part of the operator is required to back the brace structure 22 and its keeper plate out of the slots or guides 3| and away from the automatic latchin device housing. Likewise, a positive compressional force lengthwise of the rear leg brace structure 22 in the direction of the rear legs, is re- (mired in placing the keeper plate in position for reception by the guides or slots 3|. The movement last mentioned, however, is rendered very easy and accurate by reason of the fact that the lower edges 3'! of the latch housing furnish a double track upon which the keeper plate may slide while the operator advances it toward the mouth of each guide or slot 3| From the foregoing, it should readily be evident that the depth of the channel constituting the latch housing 24, and the length of the latching element 33 will determine the width of the keeper plate. Accordingly, the keeper plate might be made quite narrow, and if desired may be in the form of a rod or shaft.

Because of the fact that the various stops and tensioning elements of the trestle structure tend always to apply a forward push to the rear leg brace structure 22, the keeper plate 36 will al- Ways be held forcefully against the base ends of the slots 3|, so that the latching device 33 may swing freelyfwithout interference from the keeper plate, as the ironing table is tilted to vertical and horizontal positions while resting upon its rear end 4.

In that form of automatic latching device disclosed in Fig. 6, the body I24 may be of channel iron construction, or it may be in the form of a solid block of wood or other suitable material. The body will be furnished with a slot |3| and an enlarged mouth I32. In this form of the device, the gravity hook or retainer element I33 may be formed from sheet metal, with a head hook as at |.35 to engage a keeper plate, while the rear end of the piece is pivoted at I34 upon the body or block I24. The gravity hook I33 in the Fig. 6 modification might advantageously be duplicated at the opposite side of the block, so that two gravity hooks will receive support from the same pivot I34, and be available for a double latching engagement with the keeper. Thus, it is evident that the gravity hooks may be located eitherinteriorly or exteriorly of the automatic latching device body, as desired.

While it is considered preferable to build the device of this invention in such manner that the eg structures will be under strain in the operative position of the parts, it should be understood that the invention is also applicable to structures wherein the parts are not so strained. Accordingly, it is to. be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit, of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having front and rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure pivoted on the boardfor movement, from a collapsed position in substantial parallelism with the under surface of the board to a position of extension away from the board, a rear 7 leg brace structure having a free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear leg structure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward the under surface of the board in the extended condition of the leg structures, a transversely disposed keeper fixed near the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure, a stationary latch body on the under surface of the board located intermediate the ends of the board, said body including an open mouthed slot extending in the general direction of the pivotal connection existing between the rear leg structure and the rear leg brace structure, with the mouth receptive of the keeper aforesaid, a gravity latch having a hooked end and a pivot end, the latter end being loosely pivoted to the latch body forwardly of the slot, with the hooked end disposed rearwardly of the slot for movement toward the under surface of the board and away from the slot when the board is stood upright upon its rear end, and a track on the latch body terminating at the mouth of the slot and extending from the mouth toward the rear end of the board, for guiding the keeper into said mouth.

2. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having front and rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure each pivoted on the board near its free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear leg structure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward the under surface of the board in the extended condition of the leg structures, a keeper on the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure disposed transversely of said free forward end, a latch body on the under surface of the board including a longitudinal guide slot directed substantially in alignment with the pivotal connection between the brace structure and the rear leg structure when the brace structure is disposed at substantially its maximum inclination to the board, said slot accommodating the keeper, means yieldingly maintaining the keeper against the base of the slot, and a freely swinging latch element including a pivoted end supported by the latch body, and a hooked end to drop behind the keeper while the keeper is embraced by the guide slot and yieldingly maintained at the base of the slot, so that the hooked end will swing freely into position behind the keeper without frictional contact therewith when the ironing table with its leg structures extended and the keeper seated in the slot is tilted from a substantially vertical position toward a substantially horizontal use position.

3. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having front and rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure each pivoted on the board near its rear end for movement from a collapsed position in substantial parallelism with the under surface of the board to a position of extension away from the board, a rear leg brace structure having a free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear leg structure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward the under surface of the board in the extended condition of the leg structures, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of the front leg structure away from the board, means including tension rods connecting the front leg structure to the rear leg structure, and comprising stops limiting the extensile movement of the rear leg structure to a position de termined by the stop means of the front leg structure, whereby extreme rearward movement of the brace structure places the leg structures under tension, a keeper on the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure disposed transversely of said free forward end, a latch body on the under surface of the board including a longitudinal guide slot directed substantially in alignment with the pivotal connection of the brace structure upon the rear leg structure when the brace structure is disposed at substantially its maximum inclination to the board, said slot accommodating the keeper, with maintenance thereof against the base of the slot by the tension imposed by the stops and tension rods aforesaid, a freely swinging latch element including a pivoted end supported by the latch body, and a hooked end to drop behind the keeper while the keeper is embraced by the guide slot and tensionally retained at the base of the slot, so that the hooked end will swing freely into position behind the tensionally restrained keeper without frictional contact therewith when the table with its leg structures extended and the keeper seated in the slot, is tilted from a substantially vertical position toward a substantially horizontal use position.

4. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having front and rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure each pivoted on the board near its rear end for movement from a collapsed position in substantial parallelism with the under surface of the board to a position of extension away from the board, a rear leg brace structure having a free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear leg structure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward the under surface of the board in the extended condition of the leg structures, a keeper on the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure disposed transversely of said free forward end, a latch body on the under surface of the board including a longitudinal guide slot directed generally toward the pivotal connection between the brace structure and the rear leg structure when the brace structure is disposed at substantially its maximum inclination to the board, said slot accommodating the keeper, means yieldingly maintaining the keeper against the base of the slot, and a wire latch element bent upon itself to substantially U-shape, said wire having outwardly turned ends pivoted upon the latch body at a location closer to the slot base than to the open end of the slot, the U-portion of the bent wire latch element being directed normally toward the hinged connection of the leg structure to said board member, and turned away from the base of the latch body to provide a hook adapted to close the open end of the slot and to rest behind the keeper inserted therein, the keeper being urged against the slot base by the yielding means aforesaid, and thereby precluded from binding upon and interfering with free swinging movement of the latch element when the ironing table is tilted end up.

5. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having front and rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure each pivoted on the board near its rear end for movement from a collapsed position in substantial parallelism with the under surface of the board to a position of extension away from the board, a rear leg brace structure having a free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear leg structure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward the under surface of the board in the extended condition of the leg structures, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of the front leg structure away from the board, means including tension rods connecting the front leg structure to the rear leg structure, and comprising stops limiting the extensile movement of the rear leg structure to a position determined by the stop means of the front leg structure, whereby extreme rearward movement of the brace structure places the leg structures under tension, a keeper on the free forward end of the rear leg brace structure disposed transversely of said free forward end, a latch body of channel formation com prising a base and a pair of slotted and perforated legs spaced apart, with the base fixed to the underface of the board, the slots in said legs being receptive of the keeper and extended from the board in the general direction of the hinged connection existing between the rear leg brace structure and the rear leg structure, and a wire latch element bent upon itself to substantially U-shape, said wire having the outwardly turned ends journaled in the perforations of the legs at a location closer to the slot bases than to the open ends of the slots, the U-portion of the bent wire latch element being directed normally toward the hinged connection of the leg structure to said board, and turned away from the base of the latch body to provide a hook adapted to close the open ends of the slots and to rest behind the keeper inserted therein, the keeper being urged against the slot bases by the tensioning means aforesaid, the keeper being thereby precluded from binding upon and interfering with free swinging movement of the latch element when the board is tilted front end up.

HOWARD B. RICH. 

